President Trump tweeted Wednesday that the media has exaggerated its stories about Chinese cellphone company ZTE, and reiterated that every move he makes with regard to China is to undo unfair trade negotiations and strike new deals that are more fair for the U.S.
“The Washington Post and CNN have typically written false stories about our trade negotiations with China,” Trump posted in a string of tweets Wednesday morning. “Nothing has happened with ZTE except as it pertains to the larger trade deal.”
Trump has maintained his position that China’s trade deal with the U.S. gives it an unfair advantage and costs the U.S. billions, and he believes China has a lot to give in the upcoming negotiations.
“Our country has been losing hundreds of billions of dollars a year with China,” Trump continued in his tweet. “We have not seen China’s demands yet, which should be few in that previous U.S. Administrations have done so poorly in negotiating. China has seen our demands. There has been no folding as the media would love people to believe, the meetings haven’t even started yet! The U.S. has very little to give, because it has given so much over the years. China has much to give!”
The Washington Post and CNN have typically written false stories about our trade negotiations with China. Nothing has happened with ZTE except as it pertains to the larger trade deal. Our country has been losing hundreds of billions of dollars a year with China…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2018
…haven’t even started yet! The U.S. has very little to give, because it has given so much over the years. China has much to give!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2018
Media reports have emerged in the last week, and senators have accused Trump of violating the emoluments clause with his move to work with getting ZTE back on its feet, indicating that this move could benefit his family business.
